CEO Van Zyl Botha stated on the TechCentral Show podcast that Herotel intends to sell Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite broadband internet at prices comparable to the company's existing fiber optic tariffs. Furthermore, Herotel will assume currency risks related to terminals delivered to South Africa.
Evry, a brand owned by Maziv and introduced by Herotel in July as a retail channel for Amazon Leo, is the clearest indication regarding the service cost. Although registration is open, the service launch is planned for some point next year.
Botha clarified that since Herotel will be the importer, the company will bear the risk of delivering the terminals to South Africa. He also noted that pricing will be fixed for the initial three-year period to avoid direct tracking of the rand-dollar exchange rate.
Without disclosing product details, Botha referred to Herotel's current price list. He emphasized that the company aims to be a provider with favorable terms because there are no intermediaries or internet service providers between the customer and the company. The appeal of this product lies in the ability to almost fully align its prices with current fiber optic prices, which gives an idea of future rates.
This price list is publicly available. Herotel advertises four unlimited fiber packages, priced at R399 per month for new customers on August 11th, as well as R629, R799, and R1,049, with promotional offers in some cities. The website does not specify speeds for each tier, listing 60Mbit/s, 120Mbit/s, and 200Mbit/s only as examples. The Evry pages state that the Nano antenna supports speeds up to 100Mbit/s, and the Pro supports up to 300Mbit/s.
Botha stated that customers will be offered the option to purchase the terminal outright or take it on installment, with preference given to long-standing Herotel clients. He mentioned a wide potential market range, citing research indicating figures between 480,000 and 2.4 million people.
He acknowledged that satellite technology is 'not ideal for population density,' adding that LEO is more focused on connecting isolated areas and covering inaccessible locations rather than competing with 5G in urban centers.
The agreement is not exclusive. Amazon Leo's global business head, Trevor Vieweg, announced in July that Herotel is the 'first announced partner in South Africa,' and that 'we will likely work with other partners.' Botha's response concerned scale: 'We are present in approximately 100 cities outside major metropolitan areas, have 1,400 employees, and about 600 vehicles.' He expressed a desire to gain a distribution advantage, believing they have several years to actively sell the product, and welcomed competition.
When asked how long the advantage over Starlink might last, Botha replied that if they compete, they must follow the same rules. He stressed that Herotel will hold all necessary licenses, whereas Amazon will hold none, as it acts as a wholesale supplier, which allows them to bypass the situation hindering the largest competitor's entry into the market. The communications regulator Icasa notified the market in June that new satellite operators cannot directly obtain network licenses, while SpaceX's path to a license remains blocked due to the requirement to own historically underrepresented groups at 30%.
He used a fiber optic analogy, asserting that the fiber optic sector assumes the presence of two networks everywhere. He added that the same applies to LEO. While they prefer to have an advantage, they accept the presence of competition, and within a couple of years, competition from China will emerge, as business is not static.
Botha argued that the division between wholesale and retail trade promotes greater continental engagement, as the share of revenue retained by Herotel 'allows us to hire locals for sales, installation, support, and maintenance.' He sharply noted that other 'competitors' who work directly with the market and consumers 'leave nothing in the country.'
Amazon Leo has not yet launched a commercial service anywhere in the world, although it serves beta customers and has signed agreements with JetBlue, Delta, and AT&T. Amazon has launched 396 of the 3,236 authorized satellites, which, according to him, is enough to begin initial service later this year.
The service missed the US Federal Communications Commission checkpoint requiring 1,618 satellites in orbit by July 30th and received a conditional waiver in June, which postpones the deadline to July 2027 while temporarily lowering the spectral priority of satellites launched after the initial date.
Botha noted that he understands the product is already being tested and operational, and that Amazon intends to start operations in the US and Europe this year. He could not name an exact launch date for next year, explaining that it depends on satellite launches.
Herotel anticipates some market capture. Botha considers this 'another tool in the arsenal,' as the company does not tie customers to contracts.
Vodacom owns 30% of Maziv and is increasing this stake to 34.95%. Botha declined to comment on whether Vodacom supported the Amazon agreement, merely noting that the change in ownership had already occurred. He added that their business is currently 'operationally autonomous.'
As the US prepares to impose 100% tariffs on five countries purchasing crude oil from Russia, including India, Donald Trump's presidential advisor Peter Navarro commented. He emphasized that there are very good relations between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Navarro referenced his older article published in the Financial Times 6-8 months prior. He noted that before the war in Ukraine, India was not involved in oil trade with Russia, but subsequently began selling Russian petroleum products, which contributed to supporting the military machine.
The advisor stated that this issue has already been resolved, although after the article's publication, he faced strong opposition and trolling on social media, advising against such actions.
Peter Navarro added that problems in America are solved differently, and that the working relationship between the President and Prime Minister Modi is so good that they can settle this matter independently, and interference by him or any other group is unacceptable.
In fact, the US Senate passed the relevant law on August 7. This legislative act grants the American president the right to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of crude oil or natural gas from Russia, which include India and China. The justification for the law is that such trade helps strengthen Moscow's economy and finance its military operations in Ukraine.
The Senate approved the 'Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act' by an overwhelming majority (86 to 11). This law, named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of its main developers, aims to increase economic pressure on Russia and Iran.
The provisions of this bill are not limited only to energy-importing countries. They also provide for new restrictions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, high-ranking political and military officials, financial institutions, and energy projects. Furthermore, US bans on old and re-registered tankers used to obtain energy revenues bypassing global restrictions have been expanded. The main goal of these measures is to stop the financial sources of the Russian economy and its military campaigns.
The bill offers energy-consuming countries a choice: either purchase discounted Russian energy or maintain access to the American market. India and China are among the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. After the conflict in 2022, India increased its purchases of Russian oil at reduced prices to meet its energy needs amid global market instability. This helped Indian refineries reduce raw material costs and ensure uninterrupted supplies during disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
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The Ford Transit City, a compact electric van produced in China, is now available for sale in Europe, although its confirmation for Brazil is only expected in the second half of 2026. This compact vehicle can be ordered in Germany starting from 35,990 euros (approximately R$ 212.3k) in the L1H1 configuration, a price that does not include European VAT and should therefore not be used as a benchmark for the Brazilian market.
Developed specifically to meet the needs of deliveries and services in urban areas, the Transit City is smaller than the traditional Transit. All its variants share the same mechanical system, consisting of a 150 hp front electric motor and a 56 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery installed in the floor.
The certified range of this vehicle reaches 254 km in the combined WLTP cycle and an impressive 381 km in the urban cycle. According to Ford, this distance exceeds more than double the average daily distance traveled by 90% of light commercial vehicles in this segment. In terms of charging, the van supports up to 11 kW in alternating current, allowing it to reach 10% to 80% in about 4.5 hours, and can receive up to 87 kW in direct current, completing this range in approximately 33 minutes.
In Europe, the Transit City will be marketed in the L1H1 and L2H2 configurations, in addition to a cab-chassis option. The smaller version measures 4.985 meters long, has a wheelbase of 3.06 meters, offers a cargo volume of 5.75 m³, and a payload capacity of 1,085 kg. The larger version reaches 5.285 meters, with a wheelbase of 3.36 meters, 7.48 m³ of volume, and a capacity of up to 1,275 kg, both capable of carrying three European pallets.
Prices in Germany vary: the L2H2 starts at 38,490 euros (about R$ 227.1k), while the cab-chassis costs 37,990 euros (about R$ 224.1k).
The standard equipment is quite complete, without the need for options, which, according to the manufacturer, helps reduce costs and complexity. Included items are: 12-inch multimedia center with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning, keyless start, heated driver seat, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. It is important to note that the vehicle does not have a towing hitch; those who need to tow must opt for the e-Transit Custom.
Despite bearing a traditional name in Ford's commercial vehicle line, the Transit City originates in China. The development of the model was carried out in partnership with Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), a commercial vehicle manufacturer in which Ford holds a 32% stake, and production takes place in Nanchang. Mass production is scheduled for September, with the first deliveries in Europe expected from December.
In the Brazilian context, the Transit City will be positioned below the E-Transit, which is currently sold in the country with the larger body of the conventional Transit. Details on prices, versions, and body configurations for Brazil have not yet been released. In the national market, the van will compete against electric models such as the Foton eView and also against combustion options, including Fiat Scudo, Citroën Jumpy, and Peugeot Expert.
